Vallee says DeLeo has the votes to win

Three local lawmakers are split on who they plan to vote for as the next State House speaker to replace Salvatore DiMasi.

Aaron Wasserman/Daily News staff

Three local lawmakers are split on who they plan to vote for as the next State House speaker to replace Salvatore DiMasi.

State Reps. James Vallee, D-Franklin, and John Fernandes, D-Milford, are backing Ways and Means Committee Chairman Robert DeLeo, and Vallee said they have enough votes to win. Rep. Jennifer Callahan, D-Sutton, says she has not yet decided and believes the vote should be delayed until the public knows the potential successors better.

The House vote is scheduled for 11 a.m. tomorrow.

DeLeo is competing with House Majority Leader John Rogers to succeed DiMasi, who plans to resign today amid ethics allegations that a friend used their relationship to push ticket-scalping legislation while not registered as a lobbyist. DiMasi, D-Boston, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Vallee, who has spent the past year rounding up lawmakers to support DeLeo should DiMasi depart, said yesterday afternoon that 93 plan to vote for DeLeo, which would be enough to win. Rogers' supporters have disputed claims DeLeo will win.

"I find him a man of incredible integrity and substance, and an extremely hard-working and decent individual," Vallee, Ways and Means assistant vice chairman, said of DeLeo.

All three Milford-area lawmakers said DiMasi's resignation shows the need for better ethical conduct by all state politicians. Callahan said that extends to the actual process of electing a new speaker, which she described as hurried and secretive.

"With this vote, I have to ask - how does the public benefit by rushing it through?" said Callahan, one of only a handful of state representatives not to endorse DiMasi earlier this month for a third term as speaker.

She added, "If we could do major ethics reform as fast as we're going to do this, then maybe we wouldn't have the same questions emitting from the two candidates we're currently considering."

Rogers, D-Norwood, last year paid $30,000 to settle an investigation into his campaign finance account regarding payments Rogers made to a political consultant who made mortgage payments on a house he owned with Rogers.

DeLeo's committee also handled the controversial ticket-broker legislation, but he has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Vallee said a vote on the next speaker, originally scheduled for tomorrow, could happen as soon as today because of an expected snowstorm. He said the vote needs to happen quickly so lawmakers can return to regular business.

Vallee said he voted for DiMasi earlier this month "on the understanding he would be leaving very shortly" and would "take the hit for the one vote."

He also said he has stopped accepting campaign contributions from lobbyists. He accepted about $1,500 from lobbyists and political action committees in the last two months of the year, according to campaign finance reports.

"I think there need to be changes, some significant changes, in the way we as legislators do business," Vallee said.

Fernandes said DiMasi's resignation shows lawmakers need to be very cautious about the social circles they travel in.

"The job is one where people have to be mindful every day that the power they have belongs to the people who put them in office and they need to keep a solid arm's length away from folks who have special interests," Fernandes said. He has made a point of staying away from lobbyists and political action committees in his fundraising.

On DeLeo, Fernandes said he is a hard-working, down-to-earth man whose interests align with his on Turnpike tolls, transportation and local aid.

Rogers and his supporters have called for a delay of up to one month on the vote for the new speaker, saying the public should have input. But legislators supporting DeLeo call the move a delaying tactic to give them time to secure the required 81 votes.

"They're not being genuine," said Rep. Bradley Garrett, D-Hingham. "I think when you don't have the votes, you do what you need to do."

Rep. George N. Peterson Jr., R-Grafton, was out sick and unavailable for comment yesterday, an aide said. Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, did not return messages.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Aaron Wasserman may be reached at 508-634-7546 or awasserm@cnc.com.